In Pictures: The Crossrail Tunnels Beneath London

Dean NicholasIn Pictures: The Crossrail Tunnels Beneath LondonThe Connaught tunnels in Silvertown were originally built in the 19th century. Closed since 2007, they are being integrated into the Crossrail route.One day this will be the ticket hall at Dean Street, Soho for Tottenham Court Road station.Tunnel beneath Finsbury Square.The shaft at Stepney Green.Workers in the tunnel at the western end. Tunnels at Whitechapel station.

The project has ramped up to speed in recent months. Five tunnelling machines are now at work, creating 26 miles of tunnels beneath the city, whilst 7,000 people are employed on site. The completed route will from Maidenhead through to Shenfield in Essex via central London, with spurs to Heathrow and Abbey Wood. It is expected to open in 2018.

If the selection of pics above doesn't sate your cthonic curiosity, there are more on Crossrail's website, or you can follow the progress of the tunnelling machines on this interactive map.

In more Crossrail news, Ian Visits recently took a trip into the just-completed station box at Woolwich, although there are doubts about whether the money will be raised to properly fit it out in time for the planned 2018 opening date.